George Anderson – Lanarkshire

A Peeping Tom who was caught leering at a naked woman and her son in a sports centre changing room is facing jail.

George Anderson, 69, watched the pair after they had been swimming in Wishaw Sports Centre.

The woman’s young son dropped his toy but when she bent down to pick it up she saw Anderson crouched on his hands and knees.

She panicked and grabbed a towel to cover herself before banging repeatedly on the cubicle door.

Anderson fled the changing area in May this year and the incident was reported to staff at the Lanarkshire centre.

A police investigation led to the woman identifying Anderson from CCTV and he was arrested.

Anderson, of Allanton, Lanarkshire, appeared at Hamilton Sheriff Court and admitted voyeurism.

Depute fiscal Robbie McDougall told the court: “The witness left the pool area with her son and entered the family changing room area and began to get changed in the cubicle.

While getting changed her son dropped a toy to the floor and when she bent down to pick it up, she observed the accused on his hands and knees looking into the cubicle.

“The woman had no clothes on and the accused looked at her directly. She shouted at the accused and grabbed her towel and began banging the cubicle door.

She then left the cubicle and brought the accused to the attention of staff with the accused having left the area.

The accused was captured on CCTV leaving the sports centre a very short time after but the complainer viewed the CCTV and identified the accused.”

Andy Brophy, defending, said: “I have explained to him the full consequences of this plea.”

Sheriff Colin Dunipace deferred sentence on the first offender until January for reports and continued bail.

He warned: “You will appreciate that the court will be looking at all options in this matter.”

Anderson was placed on the sex offenders’ register. Prosecutors have requested a non-harassment order to keep him away from his victim.